Life as Sorority Alumna

With the end of the semester coming near, many sisters of chapters all over the country will be making the jump from being a collegiate sister to alumnae. When I was living out my years as a collegiate sister, I thought alumna-hood would never get to me and I'd be a fun, active, collegiate sorority sister forever. All too quickly though, I found myself as an alumna sifting through old pictures reminiscing over my college days.

Shortly after relocating a few states away from my collegiate chapter, I realized there was an alumnae chapter in my area. I thought, "Wow, this is my shot to get to do it all over again!" Until one day, I was told the alumnae chapter had been inactive for quite a few years. Being as young and gung-ho as I was, I decided to reactivate the chapter.

Now, for the past two years, I have served as the Chapter President for my alumnae chapter. I have found life as an alumna to be even more satisfying than I thought. I have been able to lead my chapter and recruit new sisters to be involved with the chapter. We have participated in multiple philanthropy events such as Campfire USA, the American Heart Association's Heart Walk, Girls Love Mail, and many others. As an alumna, there are still so many opportunities to give back to the community in the name of your letters.

Not to mention the bonds that have been formed… The sisters still involved with alumnae chapters are the sisters who truly want to continue to help their sorority grow and flourish. You're going to meet sisters who are still just as in love with their letters as the day they received their bids. You're also going to meet their daughters who look forward to going through recruitment and continuing the tradition of sisterhood as a legacy. It's one of the most fulfilling feelings I've ever been able to experience.

So while you work on decorating your graduation caps and picking out the perfect outfit to walk across the stage in, just know that your time with your sorority isn't finished just because you receive that piece of paper you've worked so hard for. There is still a whole world of opportunities to connect with sisters, give back to the community, and represent your letters and values in the best way possible. Good luck graduating seniors, and welcome to life as an alumna.

A letter to my Big

Dear Big,

      It’s almost Big/Little week and I am about to take a little of my own. A year ago I would have honestly never had thought that I could make a good big sister and be a good mentor, but you changed all of that. You are the best big I could ever ask for. I’ve always been able to come to you, and I’ve always been able to count on you. I remember jumping in your box at reveal so overcome with pure joy that I finally got you as a big that I just didn’t care. That feeling still continues, I am still so proud to have you as my big because you are one of the best people I know. You always think of others and often show kindness to people even if they don’t deserve it. I have never once seen you be disrespectful to someone and you treat everyone well. I know you have had to deal with a lot having me as your little from picking me up at parties, to listening to me rant, to intervening when a boy upset me. You weren’t always happy with me or my decisions but you were always there to help get me back on track.

         I look around at other big/little pairs and I know that we have one of the best bonds out there. The mutual admiration we have for each other is one of the best parts of our relationship; we accept our differences and make each other better. If I could do it again, I would do it the same. No matter what has happened there is no one else that I would want to be my mentor and my most trusted friend. You have given me so much and I hope that I am able to be half of the big that you are to me to my new little. I love you to the crescent moon and back Kesha.

                                      Love,

                                    Your Little 

My greatest stregnth

Guys college is stressful.I know they say it's supposed to be the best 4 (or 5) years of your life, and I'm sure looking back it will be. Right now however it seems like the test and assignments will never end, as soon as one thing is done, another pops up. I've been making pretty good grades thus far this semester and my sisters have been there to support me. They have been in the library with me, offering to tutor me in stats, and have been available for any questions. It's an amazing feeling knowing that a group of women want you to succeed and see your success as their success. The support my sisters give me is some of my greatest strength and I can tell it will be what gets me through this semester and my grades back on track. I am so blessed to call myself a Gamma Phi Beta. It's not four years but for life.

How To Deal When Your Big Is A Pi Chi

         If you are at all like me your big is your number one go to gal. When my big told me she had been chosen to be a Pi Chi for this years fall recruitment I was beyond proud. I was also already dreading the day when she would disaffiliate to help other women find their home.       
         The thoughts that went through my mind were: who is going to listen to me ramble, who is going to drop what they are doing when I'm sad and need a girls night in, and who's going to be the best most dependable DD when I call at 2 am. Basically my big is my lifeline. She's been disaffiliated now since August 1st and I miss her so much. In her absence however I have gotten closer to other sisters. Not having my big at recruitment retreat or recruitment school sucked, but I got to know a lot of sisters that I hardly spoke to before. I was forced out of my comfort zone and ended up having a great time at retreat with my sisters at the Gamma Phi house in Athens. 

Things to Remember if your big is a Pi Chi:
         1. She is helping other women find their home.
         2. Her disaffiliation is temporary.
         3.There are other sisters who are willing to help and support you.
         4. Her coming back on bid day will be the best part of recruitment.

         My big is doing a truly amazing thing by giving up her letters in order to help women through the recruitment process and ultimately find their homes. I am so lucky that I get to claim her as my big and cannot wait to run back into her arms on bid day.

XO-Rachel

Little Problems Giveaway

Meet Lauren Ashley:

            Lauren is a Gamma Phi Beta at the University of West Florida. She originally joined at Costal Carolina in the Fall of 2010. Since then, she has become the president of her area's alumnae chapter in Northwest Florida.
           She started Little Problems in May 2012 as a way of keeping busy while her boyfriend was deployed to Afghanistan. Since the begining LP has grown in various ways she never thought would be possible. It first started as a small twitter account oringinally by a Little who loved and appreciated her Big. Little Problems is now many social media accounts, and a team of sorority women, and a webstore.
         By shopping with Little Problems, not only are you stocking up on fabulous products to share with your entire sorority line, but you're also helping a greater cause. Portions of each order placed with Little Problems are donated to an amazing charity of our choosing. So please, check out their shop as well as our awesome social media pages!


Little Problems Giveaway